Outbreaks of Egg-Drop Syndrome-1976 in Japan and Its Etiological Agent

Authors:
  • SYS. Yamaguchi
    S. Yamaguchi
  • TIT. Imada
    T. Imada
  • HKH. Kawamura
    H. Kawamura
  • STS. Taniguchi
    S. Taniguchi
  • HSH. Saio
    H. Saio
  • KSK. Shimamatsu
    K. Shimamatsu
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Abstract
A condition similar to egg-drop syndrome-1976 (EDS-76) occurred in 14 broiler breeding flocks in 2 farms in Japan from Dec.-Jan. 1980; it was diagnosed as EDS-76 by serologic and virological investigations. Egg production fell suddenly when the hens were 30-55 wk old and the depression lasted 3-7 wk. Production fell 6 to 25%. Depressed egg production was accompanied by the laying of shell-less, soft-shelled and thin-shelled eggs associated with loss of egg-shell pigment. Eleven isolates of hemagglutinating adenovirus were isolated from cloacal swabs (10 isolates) and a uterus (1 isolate) of hens in 1 farm. One isolate, cloned and named JPA-1, had the same antigenicity in serologic tests and the same biological and physicochemical properties as the BC14 strain of EDS-76 virus.